To Pasadena, With Love

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses, that’s as bite-sized as a heart-shaped chocolate. 🍫

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• NAACP Image Awards

• A Love Letter to Pasadena

• Events this week: shows, workshops, lectures, and more!

• Save the Dates

Let’s get to it.

— Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

NAACP Image Awards

On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the 56th NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET and CBS. This year, the prestigious President’s Award will be presented to comedian Dave Chappelle, recognizing his significant contributions to entertainment and his impactful social commentary. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson praised Chappelle as “a powerful voice of social consciousness,” highlighting his ability to transform complex political issues into thought-provoking humor. The President’s Award honors individuals for special achievement and distinguished public service; previous recipients include Usher, Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, and Rihanna.

A Love Letter to Pasadena

Oh, Pasadena—our city of roses, where history, charm, and community bloom as beautifully as the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. We walk your tree-lined streets, past Craftsman homes and golden-hued sunsets that bathe the San Gabriel Mountains in warm light, knowing we belong to a place that is both timeless and ever-evolving. Facing the Eaton Canyon fires together, standing strong as a community has proved that our roots run deep. We cherish our gardens, the local shops, our iconic Rose Bowl, and the prideful rose stickered on our familiar strolls. From the brilliant minds at Caltech to the artists at the Norton Simon, from the aroma of Old Town’s coffee shops to the cheers of a Friday night game at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena is more than just a city—it’s a feeling, a love story we continue to write, day after day.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Friday

• 🌺Flower Bar Fundraiser: Pick up a fresh flower bouquet from Pez Costal while giving back to the community, 11:30 AM – 3:30 PM

• 🎥Roman Holiday: A movie screening of Audrey Hepburn’s romance movie at the Norton Simon Museum, 5-7 PM

  ^{(by the way, Norton Simon Museum offers free admission every first Friday of the month!)}

• 🍷Boozy Pigments Paint and Sip This Valentine’s day spend your time doing something fun and creative with us. Come solo, with friends, or your date, 7:30 PM

• 🎶For The Love Show: A night of Poetry, music and healing, 7:30 PM

• 🔭Stargazing Lecture: Caltech’s Stargazing Lecture will be presented by Martijn Oei, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Astronomy, Caltech discussing: Powerful Jets from Supermassive Black Holes, 8 PM

• 🎸Picture of You: A live tribute to The Cure at The Mixx, 8 PM

Saturday

• 🎉42nd annual Black History Festival: Will focus on recovery within the community amidst the ongoing tragedy caused by the Eaton Fire, 10 AM – 3 PM

• 📷Beginner’s Photography Class: Learn more about your camera, 10 AM – 1 PM

• 🕺🏿Dance Workshop: Hit the dance floor for an energic 3-hour beginner dance class to learn the fundaments of swing, blues and two-step, 1 – 4 PM

• 💃🏿Caltech Milonga: Caltech’s tango club hosts an afternoon of dancing at the historic Dabney Hall, 1 – 6 PM

• 💌Valentine’s Dance: Wear your favorite red outfit and get to swinging at the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association! Swing lessons available before the band plays, 8 PM

• 🎹Main Series No. 3: What is it about Dvořák that’s so compelling and familiar? What does it mean to be a “nationalist” composer? Brian explores all that and more as Salastina performs, 8 PM

Sunday

• 🧵How to Put in a Zipper: Want to level-up your sewing machine skills? discover the easiest ways to sew sippers, 3 PM

• 💆🏿‍♂️Sunday Sound Bath: Join Pasadena Sound Therapy for a relaxing and rejuvenating sound bath experience at the Renew Performance Center, 3:30 – 4:30 PM

• 🍹Sipping on Sunday Aquarius: Ixtapa Bar and Grill Cantina is turning up this weekend to celebrate all kinds of things, 5 PM

• 🎊Celebrate Black History Month: Kidspace will celebrate the strength and resiliency of the Black community throughout history and now even during a time of loss and displacement, all day

  ^{(by the way, Kids Space offers free admission every first Friday of the month!)}

Save the Date

• 🎵Blues and Community: Brother Yusef Brings Soulful Sounds to Pasadena Blues guitarist headlines Linda Vista Library’s reopening, blending music and history for Black History Month, Feb. 22

• 🧬Watson Lecture: The Hidden Poetry of the Genome by Rob Phillips at Caltech’s Beckman Auditorium, Feb. 26

• 🍔Cheeseburger Week: showcasing Pasadena’s burger impresarios at their finest, Feb. 23rd – Mar. 1

• 👨‍🎨ArtCenter Graduate Seminar: Acclaimed Artist Matthew Barney to Present Spring 2025, Feb. 25

• 🎨Jackalope Spring 2025: Applications to be a vendor at Jackalope are open and due soon, April 26 & 27

• 🎶Just Like Heaven: Vampire Weekend, Empire of the Sun, Rilo Kiley & More Live in Pasadena, May 10

Nothing in this section is sponsored. These are just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if something is sponsored!

CIVIL NEWS

Pasadena City Holiday Closures & Services

• City Closures: City Hall, City Service Center, Housing Department, Permit Center, and Pasadena Public Health Department will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17.

• Trash & Parking: Trash, recycling, and yard waste collection will continue as scheduled. Parking meters will be free, but overnight parking restrictions and fire hydrant violations will still be enforced.

• Transportation & Recreation: Pasadena Transit & Dial-A-Ride buses will operate normally. Parks remain open, but no reservations will be accepted. Community & recreation centers will be closed.

• Libraries & Permit Services: All Pasadena Public Libraries will be closed on Feb. 16, and 17, reopening on Feb. 18. The Permit Center will also be closed, but some services are available online.

• Public Safety: Fire and Police Departments will operate as usual. For emergencies, call 911; for non-emergencies, call (626) 744-4241.

• Water & Power: Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) customer service will be closed, but emergency services will be available at (626) 744-4673 (power) and (626) 744-4138 (water).

• City Council: No City Council meeting on Feb. 17; the next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 24.

NEWS N’ ROSES WEATHER

Friday

59 🌡️ 45 |🌥️| 💨 E 7 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 31 (Good)

Saturday

65 🌡️ 51 |🌥️| 💨 S 4 mph

Sunday

69 🌡️ 51 |🌥️| 💨 E 5 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler radar. 

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone celebrates Galentine’s Day. 👭

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